(c) whether any targets have been fixed to provide such facilities in all the schools of the country and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the number of schools in the country in which the above facilities were provided during each of the last three years and the current year and the expenditure incurred in this regard, State-wise;

(e) whether the condition of drinking water and toilet facilities, particularly for female teachers and girls, is pitiable in the Government schools;

(f) if so, the reasons therefor; g) the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and h) the funds allocated during the last three years and the current year to improve the overall situation of these schools?

Answer:

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a) and (b)Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, all new school buildings are sanctioned as composite buildings which include toilets for girls and boys, drinking water facilities and electrification. For existing rural schools, drinking water and toilet facilities are constructed in convergence with schemes of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation. The State-wise statement of the existing school buildings which lack drinking water and toilet facilities is at Annexure-I.

(c) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides a timeframe of three years from the commencement of the Act for the completion of school infrastructure.

(d) A State-wise statement of the number of schools buildings, toilets and drinking water facilities provided under the SSA during each of the last three years and in the current year and the expenditure incurred during this period on the provision of infrastructural facilities is at Annexure-II.

(e) to (g)As per the DISE 2011-12 (provisional) 79.82% boys’ and 80.38% girls’ toilets in elementary schools are functional. Under the SSA an annual maintenance grant is provided @ Rs. 5,000 for schools with 3 classrooms and Rs. 10,000 for schools with more than 3 classrooms for the maintenance and repair of existing school infrastructure including toilets.

(h) The Central government has released Rs. 12781.07 crore in 2009-10, Rs. 19594.07 crore, in 2010-11, Rs. 20775.38 crore in 2011-12 and Rs. 21384.53 till January, 2013, to the States / UTs for the implementation of the approved activities under the SSA programme.